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QI show in UK – cites Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner in Vancouver

Gung Haggis Fat Choy is QI in the UK

QI (Quite Interesting) is a British comedy panel game television quiz show. It is hosted by Stephen Fry, and features permanent panellist Alan Davies with many other rotating guest panelists

My library co-worker friend Chris Jang just sent me this link that mentions “Gung Haggis Fat Choy in Vancouver”.

Not sure, when these episodes were taped. But this time last year, I was still recovering from my Nov 28-Dec 5 trip to Scotland. I was there to attend the St. Andrew's Day closing night reception for Scotland Homecoming 2009, held at the Scottish Parliament Building. A picture of me wearing kilt and Chinese Lion mask was featured for the exhibit “This is Who We Are: Scots in Canada” – organized by my friend Harry McGrath. That evening I met the First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond. See my article: Toddish McWong arrives in Scotland for inaugural visit and reception at Scottish Parliament for “This is Who We Are”

I have not yet been interviewed by BBC Radio or television, but I have been a guest on BBC Radio Scotland for different things. For January 25th Robbie Burns Day 2010, I was woken up by BBC Radio Scotland, as they wanted to know how Robbie Burns Day was celebrated abroad. My description of Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner, followed a phone interview from a UK research base in Antarctica.

Anyways…. watch these video clips below, and have a dram of scotch whenever anybody mentions “Gung Haggis Fat Choy” or “Vancouver”…. or if you want to get drunk… “Haggis”

Bel Canto singing of Vancouver Opera's Lucia di Lammermoor is stunning!

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Wow! Classical Italian opera at it's best with bel canto singing, and lavish sets with projections!

Lucia di Lammermoor
Vancouver Opera
Queen Elizabeth Theatre
December 4, 7, 9, 11

Photo credit: Tim Matheson – courtesy Vancouver Opera

Don't be late to this opera! With stalls on the Lion's Gate Bridge, traffic re-routed to Ironworkers Memorial Bridge, and traffic on the Georgia Viaduct backed all the way to Main St. – I very nearly missed getting seated. The set is dark. The overture begins. Flashes of lightning(?) illuminate the main characters of this tragic love triangle. And an electric current runs through the audience. At that moment, there is no place on earth I would rather be.

A group of guards search for an intruder in a forest. A young woman named Lucia secretly meets with the hunter. Meanwhile her brother, the castle lord, wants to marry her off to save the family's failing fortunes. Lucia and Edgardo declare their love for each other, even though he is the sworn enemy of her brother.

Eglise Gutierrez, the brilliant Cuban-American coloratura soprano, is Lucia to Michael Fabiano'd Edgardo. Her first aria, set in the forest, is a showcase of trills and runs that make the lyrical beauty of bel canto opera so popular. The opening night crowd gladly gave a lengthy applause to her solo.

The singing of all the leads is very strong, and reaches a climax in Act II after Lucia is married to the hapless Arturo (Thomas Macleay). Six singers simultaneously voice their own ideas of the consequences of Lucia's wedding to a man she doesn't want to marry, who is thinks she is wonderful, arranged by her brother, with comments by the priest and her attendant companion, while her objet d'amour interrupts the wedding too late. Wow! Six part harmony!

And the sets are absolutely gorgeous! The forest scenes are densely layered with projections on the scrim screen. The castle scenes reveal a background of a vertical view of castle walls and ramparts.

Welcome to the Vancouver Opera's 2010 production of the 1835 Donizetti opera, Lucia di Lammermoor, set in early 18th Century Scotland, on the Scottish Lowland marshes of Ravenswood Castle. It is one of the most popular operas, making it's 6th appearance as a Vancouver Opera production since 1966. It could be popular because of Vancouver and BC's deep Scottish roots, but there was not a kilt to be seen on stage, since the setting is in the lowlands of Lammermuir Hills – East of Edinburgh. Donizetti based his opera on the historical novel by Sir Walter Scott, The Bride of Lammermoor, which was based on a true story of the Dalrymple Family in 1669, when a groom met a wedding night tragedy, and the bride never recovered from the trauma. And thus, one of opera's most famous scenes and arias was created.

There are dozens of youtube videos of “The Mad Scene” for Lucia Di Lammermoor, debating the merits of certain singers. But on the Queen Elizabeth stage only one mattered. Gutierrez moved thoughtfully and held the audience's rapt attention. Standing Ovations for Guiterrez at the end of the evening.

This is supposedly a deep psychological opera, about the misguided family dynamics, and the tragic deaths of three innocents. But it could also be compared to Romeo and Juliet, because of the feuding families. A simple boy meets girl, others try to break them up, girl thinks boy betrays her, so she runs the other way, and 1st boy tries to get girl back, but has consequences. Oops, maybe it it's more complicated than I thought. But in our sophisticated 21st psychological reasonings, we must remember that Lucia and Edgardo are likely teenagers. Their infatuations and rash actions could also be likened to a Glee plot on television with terrific singing scenes, but with tragic consequences more akin to the “I know What You Did” horror series.

Vancouver Opera website is very interesting.

You can find many weblinks to information about Lucia Di Lammoor on the Vancouver opera website. One of my favorite perusals is the anime cartoons done for many of its operas.

Check out anime cartoons for Lucia Di Lammermoor:
http://www.vancouveropera.ca/operalive/read.html

Music Director Jonathan Darlington describes his personal and dark connections to Donizetti.:
http://www.jonathan-darlington.com/2010/12/lucia-di-lammermoor-extreme-emotions-and-exquisit-beauty/#more-1028

There is even a Vancouver Opera youtube channel. These are videos of the rehearsals and set concepts. Don't watch them if you want to be surprised. But do watch them to be better prepared for when you do attend.

http://www.youtube.com/user/vancouveropera

Lucia di Lammermoor Trailer

Lucia Rehearsal Trailer

Lucia D (This is Eglise in non-Vancouver production – with Kilts!)

Lucia di Lammermoor

Setting the scene for Vancouver Opera Dec 4-11, 2010.

Interesting related tangential trivia with Walter Scott, Robert Burns and Giacommo Rossini:

A teen-aged Walter Scott, met the rising Scottish poet Robert Burns during the winter of 1786–87, at one salon gatherings where Burns would have given a reading about the time his first book Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish dialect was published.

There is a quote wrongly attributed to Burns “Opera is where a guy gets stabbed in the back and instead of dying, he sings“. While this quote very aptly describes the death scenes in Lucia Di Lammermoor, I could find no references of this quote on official Burns websites. But I did find it referenced to American comedian/actor Ed Gardner, which makes more sense. Burns usually wrote in the Scottish dialect, where the term “guy” is more usually found as a name “Guy”.

There are 9 operas that are set in Scotland. The most famous two are Donizetti's Lucia Di Lammermoor, and Verdi's Macbeth. Rossini's La donna del lago (The Lady of the Lake), which was the first Walter Scott novel to be adapted to opera, has not been performed in Vancouver. While Vancouver Opera has produce Lucia di Lammermoor 6 times, and Macbeth only once, VO seems to have a love affair with certain operas set in China and Japan, as Turando has been produced 4 times, and Madam Butterfly 9 times. Count for yourself on Vancouver Opera's Production History.

Lucia Di Lammermoor – blogger night and kilts @ the opera

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Kilts and Bloggers to the opera

Photo by Frances Sprout – check out her blog http://materfamiliasknits.blogspot.com/

Saturday was the opening night for the bel canto opera Lucia Di Lammermoor. Written by the Italian Donizetti, it was set in the exotic locale of the lowlands of Scotland amidst feuding clans.

The last time Vancouver Opera performed an opera set in Scotland was Verdi's Macbeth for November 2006.
Here's my review: Vancouver Opera's Macbeth: Italian opera based on an English play about Scottish ambitions

Last time, it was icy and freezing. I wore my Ancient Fraser Hunting Tartan. This time I wore my new very yellow Macleod tartan. I paired it with my black and gold waistcoat and a bright yellow tie.

Lucia di Lammermoor is a wonderful opera experience. The music is thrilling. The sets are amazing. The story is simple… a variation of Romeo and Juliet, set in the Scottish moors, with a little bit of Glee Club mixed in (must remember that back in early 1700's, girls were married off in their teens!).

At intermission, I stopped by the blogger tables and met the bloggers: Stacey Robinsmith, Nik Belonio, Miranda Lievers and Frances Sprout. I had some great little chats with Miranda and Frances. Frances loved my outfit and even took a picture of me for her blog!

Opera review coming:

Night in December

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Many people who struggle to get a good night’s sleep might be surprised to find out how much of an impact their environment has in getting some quality shut-eye. People who live in St. Louis, MO may have a hard time falling asleep during the hot summer season. Good thing there are a number of ways residents can create the perfect conditions for having a refreshing amount of rest in their own homes.

All it takes is making a few adjustments to your heating and air conditioning system. Simple tweaks can increase your likelihood of falling asleep quickly and gaining good-quality rest at the same time. Try some of these HVAC tips for a better sleep. If you encounter any kind of failures cease use immediately and get professional assistance from HVAC techs in Hawaii.

Achieving the Ideal Temperature

besttemperature As your body gets ready for its sleep cycle, it tends to cool down naturally to help you feel more relaxed. It’s possible to aid in this process by reducing the temperature in your bedroom.

Studies show the best temperature for sleeping is between 60 and 67 degrees. Program your thermostat to begin cooling down shortly before your bedtime. By the time you’re in bed conditions should be perfect.

If you do this during winter, you may be able to save on heating costs. Summertime is a different story, and you may want to resort to using fans. Homeowners with zone-control air conditioning can just cool their own bedrooms.

Keep an Eye on Humidity

Humidity levels can also impact sleep. High levels can make the air feel stuffy and difficult to breathe. It also has a tendency to attract insects and promote mold growth in your home.

Low levels, on the other hand, can cause your throat and sinuses to feel dry and scratchy. Ideally, you will want between 40-50% humidity.

You can test the level using a hygrometer; an inexpensive device. Then use a dehumidifier or humidifier to adjust the humidity to your liking.

Make Use of Fans

Fan Sometimes fans are a better cooling option than air conditioners for sleeping. They consume a fraction of the energy while still being able to produce a draft that can cool down your skin and keep temperatures within the desired range.

It also circulates the air in a room, which can make it feel fresh and easy to breathe. Fans also come with a bonus feature. The noise they produce can be calming and help induce sleep while drowning out other noises that might wake you up. The perfect sleep accompaniment.

With a few simple tweaks, you can take advantage of your home’s HVAC system to both save money and get a refreshing night’s sleep. Just learn to program your thermostat and monitor humidity levels. Fall asleep more quickly and stay asleep by using fans to cool down your body. Get more quality sleep.

review: Red Letters – a new Chinese-Canadian musical

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Red Letters reveal the hidden tragedies of the Chinese Head Tax, while sharing hopes and dreams with soaring melodies

Directed by Andy Maton
Music & Lyrics by Alan Bau
Book by Kathy Leung
Original Book by Alan Bau

November 26 – December 4 with
Preview November 25 (10 Performances), Roundhouse Performance Centre,
Vancouver

December 30 – January 8, 2011
with Preview December 29 (10 Performances), Gateway Theatre Studio,
Richmond

January 13 – January 16 with
Preview January 12 (8 Performances), Metro Studio Theatre, Victoria

8pm nightly with select matinee
performances

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Quick! Name a musical that features a Chinese-Canadian
story…

Okay… there was the Iron Road opera that performed in
Toronto and was later turned into a CBC-China 2-part drama with an unrealistic
love story. And there is the
Vancouver Opera Touring Ensemble production of Naomi’s Road, based on Joy
Kogawa’s children’s version of the award winning novel Obasan.

Waitaminute… what about that Rogers and Hammerstein musical
set in San Francisco, Flower Drum Song?

Flower Drum Song was produced by VACT last year for 2009. Originally written as a 1957 book, became a 1958 stage musical and a 1961 movie starring Nancy Kwan.

RED LETTERS is an ambitious work that marks a first for a Chinese Canadian theatre company. While there have been theatre pieces such as Simon Johnston's Gold Mountain Guest, there hasn't yet been a musical with the broad story strokes and lyrical musical passages that interweave the heartbreaking trials of racism and isolation caused by the Canadian government's head tax and exclusion act from 1885 to 1947.

The play opens with the apology for the Chinese Head Tax
and Exclusion Act, by Prime Minister Stephen Harper on June 22^nd. An 84 year old gentle man named Ping (Alan Wong) is watching the
apology on television, and ponders what this event means to himself, his
parents and the Chinese-Canadian community.

Song: Ping sings

Flashback: two
Chinese teenagers flirt and wash clothes by the river in China. Shen (Alvin Tran) announces to Mei (Rosie Simon), that he is being sent by his family to go to Gum San (Gold Mountain)/ Canada to make lots of money and help his family.

Song duet: Mei and Shen sing about their hopes and dreams

Next scene: Shen arrives in Canada, and begins work in a laundry shop in Vancouver Chinatown.

Red Letters interweaves a love story with Shen's aspirations to make a living in Canada, and make enough money to bring his new wife Mei to Canada to live with him. But racism lives in Canada, as work is scarce and the Chinese immigrants are blamed for many things, including taking jobs away from whites. The $50 head tax that was introduced in 1885, as a deterrent to keep Chinese from coming to Canada was raised to $500 in 1903 – the equivalent of two year's wages of a Chinese labourer or a small house.

Shen saves his money, and works hard at two jobs at the laundry and a sawmill. His boss is excellently played by Jimmy Yi. They delightfully break into a song and dance about working hard, keeping their heads down out of trouble, and sticking their noses up at white folks, despite the racism they face.

Like all good musical story arcs there is tragedy and redemption.

Red Letters succeeds because it breaks new ground in theatre. It tells an important story in an way that is sure to entertain.

At the Tuesday show, I met Chinese community elders that had grown up with my parents. They were surprised to see a picture of their family's store, used as a backdrop. They were enthusiastic about the musical, and said they would tell all their family to see Red Letters.

I also chatted with a elderly white male, who also was enthusiastic about the play. He said he never knew about the head tax, or how it affected the Chinese families facing racism in Canada, and separation from their loved ones still in China.

RED LETTERS will serve as a wonderful entertaining way to inform audiences about an important part of history in Canada.

RED LETTERS touches a very personal part of me, because I also attended the simulcast of the apology in the ballroom of
the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, and I was also involved with the Head Tax Redress campaign in Vancouver from 2005-2006.

Chinese-Canadian + Scottish-Italian culture this week in Vancouver

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Lots of cultural events this week.
I've seen Red Letters and Jade in the Coal and recommend them for people
to learn about important issues in Chinese Canadian history, in a fun
entertaining way. Reviews being posted after I get off work today! Both have lots of music. Cantonese opera in Jade In the Coal, and Broadway style musical for Red Letters – with soaring lyricism which reminds me of Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard, and Brigadoon.

I will be attending the opera Lucia de Lamamoor on Dec 4th opening night, wearing my kilt – which is set on the lowlands of Scotland. I wore my kilt for Macbeth a few years ago… thank goodness it's not as cold in Vancouver as it is in Scotland right now!

Dec 2 – KILTS
NIGHT at Doolin's
until Dec 4th – JADE
IN THE COAL – theatre @ UBC
until Dec 4th – RED
LETTERS – musical @ Roundhouse
Dec 4, 6. 8, 11 – LUCIA DE LAMAMOOR – Vancouver Opera

see details below

LAST KILTS NIGHT
of 2010

and
the first Kilts night to follow St. Andrew's Day (Nov 30)
We can
hoist our
Guinness to the patron Saint of Scotland (or not).
Free pint o'
Guinness when you wear your kilt
Free live music with Halifax
Wharf
Rats starting 9pm
I'll be there at 8:30pm
to grab some seats!

Nov 25-Dec 4th
JADE IN THE
COAL – new play by Paul Yee
@ UBC Frederic Wood theatre – set in early
1900's during head tax era
http://www.theatre.ubc.ca/jade_in_the_coal/

RED LETTERS
Nov
26-Dec 4th in Vancouver – Roundhouse Community Centre
Dec. 29 – Jan.
8 Richmond – Gateway Theatre
Red Letters – Vancouver Asian Canadian
Theatre's musical about the head tax/ exclusion era.
http://www.vact.ca/

LUCIA DE LAMAMOOR –
Vancouver Opera,
Dec
4, 7, 9, 11
Queen Elizabeth
Theatre
– Italian opera by Donizetti – set on Scottish lowland
moors.
Great songs, love, drama deceit, tragedy, clan wars….
http://www.vancouveropera.ca/lucia_di_lammermoor.html

Ricepaper 15th Anniversary Dinner – Dec 11

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Ricepaper
magazine is celebrating its 15th anniversary at Foo’s Ho Ho Restaurant
on Saturday, December 11, 2010

Ricepaper 15th Anniversary Poster

Ricepaper
magazine, the Asian Canadian Writers’ Workshop and Friends of Foo’s Ho
Ho cordially invite you to participate in the celebration of Ricepaper‘s
milestone 15th anniversary at Foo’s Ho Ho Restaurant, the oldest
surviving Chinese restaurant in historic Chinatown, for a taste of
pioneer-style Chinese food.

Ricepaper is Canada’s only nationally-distributed literary
magazine devoted to showcasing Asian Canadian artists, writers,
performers and innovators. For 15 years, Ricepaper has
published important work for and about Asian Canadian community
luminaries such as David Suzuki, Fred Wah, Denise Chong, and Evelyn Lau
while also providing opportunities for new and emerging talent to
publish their work.

The evening will be co-hosted by actor Patrick Gallagher (Glee,
True Blood) and actor, radio broadcaster, and comedian Tetsuro
Shigematsu and will include an 8 course meal, special celebrity guests
and a raffle draw.

Date: Saturday, December 11, 2010 at 6pm

Place: Foo’s Ho Ho Restaurant,
102 East Pender Street

Ricepaper
magazine is celebrating its 15th anniversary at Foo’s Ho Ho Restaurant
on Saturday, December 11, 2010

Ricepaper 15th Anniversary Poster

Date: Saturday, December 11, 2010 at 6pm

Place: Foo’s Ho Ho Restaurant,
102 East Pender Street

Price: $40 donation includes a 1-year subscription to Ricepaper
magazine

For reservation and tickets please contact Friends of Foo’s Ho Ho
(Jacqueline): (604) 395-4274 or Ricepaper office (Patricia): (604)
872-3464 or reserve your spot online via paypal:

Ricepaper 15th Anniversary celebration ticket

Note: we will be contacting you
for address information for the subscription included with this ticket.

$40.00Price:

Tickets for GUNG HAGGIS FAT CHOY Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner – now available

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Tickets for GUNG HAGGIS FAT CHOY Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner

– now available at Firehall Arts Centre Box Office

Toddish McWong, creator of Gung Haggis Fat Choy at Scottish Parliament display “This Is Who We Are: Scots in Canada” stands beside a picture of himself – as word of Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner spread to Edinburgh, Glasgow and Ayre – the birthplace of Robbie Burns, as Wong visited Scotland last year for the Homecoming Celebrations.

Sunday January 30th, 2011
5pm Doors open
6pm Dinner and Entertainment

Floata Seafood Restaurant
400 – 180 Keefer St.
Vancouver Chinatown

Featuring for 2011
Vancouver Poet Laureate Brad Cran
Special co-host Patrick Gallagher (The Coach on Glee)
Gung Haggis Fat Choy Pipes & Drums
Famous Gung Haggis deep-fried haggis won ton!
+ much much more!

$60 per seat + $5 service charge
Save $ and order a table of 10 = $600 + $20 = $620.

Phone Box Office: 604.689.0926
Order on-line:
https://tickets.firehallartscentre.ca/TheatreManager/1/tmEvent/tmEvent483.html

Last year, Toddish McWong went to Scotland for the first time.

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Toddish McWong: A Reflection of going to Scotland's Homecoming – as both stranger and friend.

Here are my accounts of last year's journey to Scotland. I had meant to
write more, but it was hard to find internet time. And sometimes we
are just too busy enjoying the journey.

There are opportunities gained and lost. I almost passed up on an invitation to attend a reception at Scottish Parliament where a life size picture of me was featured in the exhibit “This is Who We Are: Scots in Canada”.

November 30th weather is cold, and my budget was tight. But when would I ever get a chance to attend Scotland Homecoming? And my friend Harry McGrath who had organized the exhibit, wanted to introduce me to his friends.

Todd's first day in Scotland

Toddish McWo ng arrives in Scotland for inaugural visit and reception at Scottish Parliament for “This is Who We Are”

People sometimes ask me if I am part Scottish… I must be right? Why else would I be celebrating Robbie Burns Day and obsessing about all things Scottish?

The truth is I am 5th Generation Canadian of 100% Chinese ancestry.

And I have come to appreciate Canada's Scottish ancestry after having reluctantly first worn a kilt back in 1993. I was a tour guide for Simon Fraser University, so I knew that Simon Fraser had been born in Vermont, in the USA, before moving to Canada as a young lad. He joined the Hudson's Bay Trading Company, and explored Western Canada, naming an area New Caledonia, which is now BC's central interior new Prince George, near the head waters of the Fraser River. As far as I know, Simon Fraser never set foot in Scotland.

And I had never set foot in a country called China. Well, maybe… I had visited the Republic of China (Taiwan) in 1980, and had visited Hong Kong. But it wasn't Beijing, Shanghai or Guangdong. It wasn't Mainland China where my ancestors had come from.

The Gung Haggis Fat Choy first began in 1998 with 16 people in a living room as a variation of a Chinese New Year Dinner for friends the previous year. But it has now become an extravanza of poetry, music and food for 400+.

When I was younger, I didn't want anything to do with Scotland. It reeked of the colonial vestiges of Canada's racist past. I was well acquainted with the laws that created the Chinese head tax and Exclusion Act that had limited Chinese immigration from 1885 to 1947.